Apparatus and methods for testing patch antennas

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for testing of patch antennas are provided herein. In certain configurations, a method of electronic testing of patch antennas includes moving a patch antenna having a planar antenna element onto a test fixture using an automated handler, including positioning the patch antenna onto a portion of the test fixture between a first probe and a second probe. The method further includes coupling a test signal from the first probe to the planar antenna element without physically contacting the planar antenna element with the first probe, coupling the test signal from the planar antenna element to the second probe without physically contacting the planar antenna element with the second probe, and measuring a center frequency of the patch antenna based on an amount of coupling of the test signal from the first probe to the second probe by way of the planar antenna element.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of electronic testing of patch antennas, the method comprising:
 moving a patch antenna having a planar antenna element onto a test fixture using an automated handler, including positioning the patch antenna onto a portion of the test fixture between a first probe and a second probe; 
 coupling a test signal from the first probe to the planar antenna element without physically contacting the planar antenna element with the first probe; 
 coupling the test signal from the planar antenna element to the second probe without physically contacting the planar antenna element with the second probe; and 
 measuring a center frequency of the patch antenna based on an amount of coupling of the test signal from the first probe to the second probe by way of the planar antenna element. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein measuring the center frequency includes controlling a frequency of the test signal to a plurality of frequency values to measure a frequency response characteristic of the patch antenna. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  further comprising measuring a quality factor of the patch antenna based on the amount of coupling. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2  further comprising measuring a bandwidth of the patch antenna based on the amount of coupling. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising controlling a temperature for measuring the center frequency using a temperature unit. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  further comprising measuring the center frequency at a first temperature level, changing the temperature from the first temperature level to a second temperature level using the temperature unit, and measuring the center frequency at the second temperature level. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein coupling the test signal from the planar antenna element to the second probe includes sensing a vertical electric field emanating from an edge of the planar antenna element. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein coupling the test signal from the first probe to the planar antenna element includes generating an electric field using a transmission line probe. 
     
     
       9. An electronic testing system for testing patch antennas, the electronic testing system comprising:
 a test fixture including a first opening and a second opening; 
 an automated handler configured to move a patch antenna having a planar antenna element onto and off of a portion of the test fixture between the first opening and the second opening; 
 a first probe configured to extend through the first opening without physically contacting the planar antenna element when the patch antenna is on the test fixture; 
 a second probe configured to extend through the second opening without physically contacting the planar antenna element when the patch antenna is on the test fixture; and 
 a signal analyzer configured to generate a test signal on the first probe, and to measure a center frequency of the patch antenna by determining an amount of coupling of the test signal from the first probe to the second probe by way of the planar antenna element. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic testing system of  claim 9  wherein the signal analyzer is configured to control a frequency of the test signal to a plurality of frequency values to measure a frequency response characteristic of the patch antenna. 
     
     
       11. The electronic testing system of  claim 10  wherein the signal analyzer is further configured to measure a quality factor of the patch antenna. 
     
     
       12. The electronic testing system of  claim 10  wherein the signal analyzer is further configured to measure a bandwidth of the patch antenna. 
     
     
       13. The electronic testing system of  claim 9  further comprising a controller for synchronizing the operation of the signal analyzer and the automated handler. 
     
     
       14. The electronic testing system of  claim 9  further comprising a temperature unit configured to control a temperature for measuring the center frequency. 
     
     
       15. The electronic testing system of  claim 9  wherein the test fixture includes a conductive plate configured to electrically connect to a backside conductor of the patch antenna. 
     
     
       16. The electronic testing system of  claim 9  wherein the first probe is a first transmission line probe and the second probe is a second transmission line probe. 
     
     
       17. A method of manufacturing patch antennas, the method comprising:
 making a first patch antenna including a planar antenna element using a batch of dielectric and a first antenna pattern; 
 measuring a center frequency of the first patch antenna based on coupling a test signal from a first probe to the planar antenna element without physically contacting the planar antenna element with the first probe, coupling the test signal from the planar antenna element to a second probe without physically contacting the planar antenna element with the second probe, and determining an amount of coupling of the test signal from the first probe to the second probe by way of the planar antenna element; 
 selecting a second antenna pattern from a plurality of available antenna patterns based on the measured center frequency; and 
 making a second patch antenna using the batch of dielectric and the second antenna pattern. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  wherein measuring the center frequency includes controlling a frequency of the test signal to a plurality of frequency values to measure a frequency response characteristic of the first patch antenna. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of available antenna patterns each have a different corresponding shape of the planar antenna element. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17  further comprising measuring a center frequency of the second patch antenna, selecting a third antenna pattern from the plurality of available antenna patterns based on the measured center frequency of the second patch antenna, and making a third patch antenna using the batch of dielectric and the third antenna pattern.